For four decades, Tom French climbed the proverbial career ladder, ascending to the top with great success. But as the 60-year-old faced his mandatory retirement, he realized he was ready to summit a different mountain by returning to the long-held dream of his youth: climbing Mount Everest. How he made the decision and prepared for a journey few have dared to tackle is the riveting story of his new book that’s part adventure tale, part memoir and part outdoor travelogue.

“The Gap Years: Climbing, Skiing, and the Journey Back” is French’s enthralling personal story of his journey from the top of the business world to the top of the world’s tallest mountain. In an edge-of-your-seat narrative, French recounts how and why he took on this extreme physical challenge as he entered the second half of his life.

“The Gap Years: Climbing, Skiing, and the Journey Back” is our November selection for Bookmarked: the “Under the Radar” book club.

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Guest

  • Tom French, a lifelong mountaineer, cross-country skier and lover of the outdoors, senior partner emeritus of McKinsey & Company, board chair of the Trustees of Reservations, a director of Corning Incorporated and author of “The Gap Years: Climbing, Skiing, and the Journey Back.”